7 words and phrases that undermine your authority

Small language habits can weaken your message without you realizing it. Here’s what to eliminate to sound more confident.

Nobody wants to sound weak. We all have a desire to be heard and taken seriously when we speak in meetings and other situations. But so many people pack their prose with words that discourage people from taking them seriously. Avoid the following words if you want to come across as a strong, convincing speaker.